The Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 LIGHT Awards grants. The eleven new teams consist of 59 educators pursuing self-designed professional learning projects. Starting this summer, the teacher teams will embark on learning journeys to enhance their skills as educators and build community among their team.
With the addition of these new teams, the LIGHT Awards program has supported over 550 educators in the Greater Bay Area in pursuing 115 projects of their choice.
Launched in 2014, the LIGHT Awards (Leveraging Innovation by Growing and Honoring Teachers) provide teachers with funding to pursue the professional learning they find most meaningful. Intrepid believes that its investment in LIGHT Awards grants leads to professional and personal growth for participants, deeper collaboration, and changes in instructional practices that positively impact students. Research has found that participating in a LIGHT team creates a significant positive impact on teachers’ professional identities, with many reporting increased satisfaction and camaraderie in their work as a result of their involvement.
Projects selected for the 2025-2027 cohort include:
- A group of high school English teachers will partner with a consultant over their two year project arc to study foundational literacy in order to better support their population of newcomer students. The team will acquire new pedagogical strategies to support their goal of improving reading skills for their students. They will share new strategies and provide coaching to other educators at their school, and will also share throughout their district.
- A team of elementary educators will work with local nonprofit The Teaching Well to obtain training in self and collective care practices to better manage stress and ensure longevity in the profession. The team will also learn how to model healthy wellness habits for their students.
Karen Leshner, founder of the Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation, shared:
“I am delighted to welcome these 59 educators of Cohort 12 to our LIGHT Awards community. Speaking for both myself and the LIGHT Advisory Team, we can’t wait to meet each of you and offer support as you launch these ambitious projects. With these grants, we recognize and honor the importance of educators in American society, as well as their vital role in inspiring the hearts and minds of students.”
The 2025-2027 LIGHT Awards cohort consists of educators from the following 15 schools:
- Captain Jason M. Dahl Elementary – San Jose.
Project title: Developing Strong Mathematical Thinking in the Classroom - Castro Valley High School, Canyon Middle School, Creekside Middle School – Castro Valley.
Project title: Creating Culture through Collaboration - Central Park Elementary School – Santa Clara.
Project title: Collaborative Problem Solving: Help Ignite a Future of Hope - College Park Elementary School – San Mateo.
Project title: PLC Global Ambassadors – College Park Elementary - Garfield Elementary School – Oakland.
Project title: Mindful Mentoring for Teacher Leaders at Garfield - Gateway High School – San Francisco.
Project title: Building Equitable Access to Learning for Multilingual Learners in the Secondary Classroom - Gateway Middle School – San Francisco.
Project title: Restorative Justice from Diverse Perspectives - Marguerite Hahn Elementary School – Rohnert Park.
Project title: Engaging Minds: Multisensory Learning Interventions for Elementary Classrooms - Marshall Elementary School – Castro Valley.
Project title: Marshall Elementary Multilingual Learner Support Project - Oakland International High School – Oakland.
Project title: Foundational Literacy and Syntax for Newcomer Multilingual Students - Ocean View Elementary School, Cornell Elementary School, Marin Elementary School – Albany.
Project title: GLAD Training for ELD Teachers
Learn more about each project..
For further information about the LIGHT Awards, visit lightawards.org
For information about Intrepid Philanthropy Foundation, visit intrepid-philanthropy.org